From Grand Palaces to Modern Marvels: 7 of the Legendary Venues of the Paris Olympics.

When the world's greatest athletes gather in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics, they won't just be competing for gold medals–they'll be making history at some of the city's most iconic and culturally significant venues. From famous stadiums to architectural marvels, the organizers of these Summer Games have chosen an amazing mix of old and new backdrops to host the Olympic events.

The Seine River

Olympic Events: Opening ceremonies, swimming marathon, triathlon

Capacity: unknown

In a historic first for the Olympic Games, the 2024 Paris opening ceremony will take place not in a traditional stadium, but along the iconic Seine River winding through the heart of the French capital. The ambitious decision aligns with the Paris organizers' motto of "Games Wide Open".

A flotilla of boats carrying the 10,500 athletes from nations around the globe, will parade along a 3.7-mile stretch of the Seine, allowing spectators lining the river’s banks to celebrate up close. This unprecedented opening ceremony route will showcase Paris’s renowned architecture and monuments as the athletic delegations sail past landmarks like the Eiffel Tower, Louvre Museum and Notre Dame Cathedral. The Seine won’t just provide a stunning backdrop for the opening festivities. The famous waterway will also host open-water marathon swimmers and triathletes before the cycle and run along its banked paths.

The Grand Palais

Olympic Events: Fencing, Taekwondo

Capacity: 8,000 

Gracing the Avenue des Champs-Élysées stands the magnificent Grand Palais. This architectural gem is renowned for its stunning glass-domed ceiling and sprawling halls. Originally constructed for the 1900 Universal Exhibition, the Grand Palais was dedicated “by the French Republic to the glory of French art.”  

Typically an art gallery, concert hall and exhibition space, the Grand Palais is no stranger to hosting world-class sporting events. In 2010, it was the site of the World Fencing Championships and in 2017, part of the celebrated Tour de France cycling race. For the Paris Olympics, this architectural marvel will undergo another transformation – becoming the venue for the fencing and taekwondo events. By hosting two of the most ancient Olympic disciplines, the Grand Palais adds another illustrious chapter to its storied legacy.

Palace of Versailles

Olympic Events: Equestrian, Modern Pentathlon 

Capacity: 15,000 – 40,000

The legendary Palace of Versailles was the opulent royal residence of King Louis XVI and his infamous queen, Marie Antoinette. Covering a staggering 2,014 acres, the palace’s renowned gardens will provide a truly regal backdrop for the equestrian and modern pentathlon events.  Horse and riders will compete in dressage and showjumping challenges on the manicured landscapes designed almost 350 years ago by legendary garden architects in 1682.

The palace’s Orangery and Grand Canal will host portions of the pentathlon's fencing, swimming, riding, running and shooting competitions. Additionally, the palace is the turnaround point for the Olympic marathon race, whose route commemorates the famous "Women's March on Versailles", a key catalyst for the French Revolution. 

Champ de Mars and Eiffel Tower Stadium

Olympic Events: Fencing, Taekwondo, Beach Volleyball

Capacity: 8,500

The Champs de Mars gardens stretching before the Eiffel Tower will provide one of the most spectacular backdrops for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics. This famous Parisian greenspace is being transformed into a multi-sport venue for three different Olympic competitions.

The centerpiece will be the new Champs de Mars Arena, an indoor venue designed by renowned architect Jean-Michel Wilmotte. Inside this modern structure, the world's best judo and wrestling athletes will grapple for gold medals while the iconic iron lattice of the Eiffel Tower looms in the background vistas. Just steps away, an outdoor beach volleyball stadium is being constructed on the lush lawns closest to the Eiffel Tower's base. The drama of spikes, sets and dives in the sand unfolding to the accompaniment of the Iron Lady's iconic silhouette will be something to see.

Stade Yves-du-Manoir

Olympic Event: Field Hockey

Capacity: 15,000

Steeped in over a century of sporting history, the Stade Yves-du-Manoir stands out as one of the most historic venues for the 2024 Paris Summer Games. This iconic stadium will achieve an incredibly rare feat —hosting Olympic events for the second time after previously doing so 100 years ago at the 1924 Paris Olympics. This time, the world's best field hockey athletes will take center stage, vying for medals on the same pristine pitch that hosted boxing and cycling events during the 1924 Games.

Originally constructed in 1907, the Stade Yves-du-Manoir has borne witness to some of the biggest competitions over the past 115 years. Its hallowed grounds have staged monumental matches like the famous 1938 World Cup Final between Italy and Hungary. While temporary renovations will be made to accommodate modern facilities, the organizers are committed to preserving the stadium's unique architecture and old-world charm.

Teahupo'o

Olympic Event: Surfing

Capacity: 2,000

While venues for the 2024 Paris Summer Olympics are in and around the French capital, there is one location that stands out—on the complete opposite side of the world. The surfing events will take place at the famed break of Teahupo'o in Tahiti, part of the French Polynesian islands in the South Pacific. Teahupo'o has been an annual stop on the elite World Surf League Championship Tour for decades. With its picture-perfect backdrop of lush greenery meeting azure waters, Teahupo'o is an idyllic setting for the surfing’s Olympic debut.

However, the Olympic surfers won't just be battling the ocean's forces—they'll also be contending with the extreme distance from Paris. At nearly 9,800 miles away, Teahupo'o sets a record as the farthest Olympic venue location in Summer Games history. The athletes face an overseas journey of over 20 hours just to reach their competitions.

Palais de la Concorde

Olympic Events: BMX Freestyle, Skateboarding, 3x3 Basketball, Breaking

Capacity: 37,000

Another breathtaking Olympic venue will be the Place de la Concorde, the largest public square in Paris, located near the famous Tuileries Gardens. This historic site is surrounded by ornate stone facades, fountains and the iconic Luxor Obelisk gifted by Egypt in the 1830s. Over the centuries, the Place de la Concorde has been the site of major public celebrations and somber events, including royal proclamations, the execution of King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette during the French Revolution, the Restoration of the Bourbon Monarchy in 1814 and the annual grand military parades on Bastille Day commemorating the revolution.

For the 2024 Paris Games, this 21-acre plaza will undergo a temporary transformation into an immense urban park. In addition to the Olympic competitions, the reimagined Place de la Concorde that will host a series of concerts, exhibitions and sports demonstrations.